Birthday and Baptism

We had a big birthday to celebrate around here this month!  Shortstop turned 8...although I do not know when that happened.  We kept it pretty low key...mostly because of my pregnancy and how hard it has been but also we knew his baptism day would be filled with family and fun.  His actual birthday he loved going to school and taking treats then we enjoyed family dinner, a cake shaped into a moon landing scene and presents.  Then he and I watched Harry Potter 4: The Goblet of Fire.  He was geeking out about that cause it is PG 13 but he has wanted to see it forever since he read the book.  I love laid back birthdays with just my little family.  I could not ask for a better oldest boy and am so glad he is the example the other kids have to look up to.

Looking up spells in his new spell book as we watched the movie

Then two weekends later was the big baptism day.  Shortstop has been ready for this forever.  He read the up to Alma in the Book of Mormon to prepare and to know he was making the right choice.  He loves the Lord and said he couldn't wait to have the gift of the Holy Ghost at all times.  Mark was pretty emotional and so proud of his oldest son.  I love watching my hubby perform his priesthood duties with his family.
Shortstop has taught me so much about forgiveness, loving the gospel and having a strong desire to learn all he can.  He tries so hard to do what is right that sometimes it stresses him out.  We are working on that.  We had so much family in town and loved spending time with them.  Somehow we lucked out with him being the only baptism in our ward so we got to do the whole program.  My dad and my nephew Reagan gave the talks, my sisters gave the prayers and lead the music and Elise and Uncle Tyler sang the most gorgeous duet.  We were sad that Mark's parents could not make it due to his dad having pneumonia but we understood.  I was pretty wasted afterwards but grateful more than anything for the choice my boy made and for the family I have that supports everything we do.  Shortstop loved getting called up to the stand on Sunday as the newest member of the ward.